Step construction for automobiles



Pgtnted Feb. 21, 1922.

J. GHURCHWARD. STEP consmucnom FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, I917.

I v i JAMES CHUBSH'W'AR-D, OF LAKEVILLE, GODINECTICUT, ASSIGNQR OF ONE-HALF TD ROBERT SVBLAIR, OF STAIYIFQRD, CQNNEC'EIGUT, AND ONE-HALF T0 LOUIEE GH'URCHVVARD, OF. LA KEVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

' s'rnrj, oonsrnuorron non AUTOMOBILES.

assa.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 21, W22.

Application filed August ZO, 1917. Serial No. 187,124.

T 0 (IN whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, JAMEs CHUROHWARD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lakeville, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvementin Step Constructions for Autocation. i

This invention relates to the entrance construction and more particularly step construction of automobiles and the like. 7

One of the objects thereof is to provide practical and simple means whereby the step of automobiles or the like may present clean and otherwise desirable surfaces.

Another object is to provide a step arrangement of simple construction and convenient and eflicient action.

Another object is to provide means of the type first mentioned which are readily manipulated and adapted to meet conditions of hard practical use.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

This invention accordingly consists in the features of. construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims. l

In the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown one of various possible embodiments of thisinvention, V i I Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of an automobile. V

Figure 2 is a sectional view alongthe line 2-2 of Figure]. showingthe parts open in condition for, use.

Figure 3 .is a similar view showing the parts in closed condition, the section being along the line 3 -3.

Similar reference characters refer to $11111- lar parts throughout the different views of the drawing.

As conducive of a clear. understanding of certain features of thls invention it may be noted that in the use of automobiles and particularly those of the closed type it hasbeen found that under certainmnditions the ordinary step construction presents many disadvantages. The exposed step surface, espe cially in unfavorable weather,is likely to become wet and dirty and is especially objectionable to ladies in evening costume, as it tends to soil light shoes and gowns. To avoid this objectionable feature without sacrlfice of general practicability and efficiency of action is one of the dominant aims of this invention.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawing there is shown at 10 a portion of an automobile of the closed type. Beneath the door 11 of this vehicle is the step 12 which may be of the usual construction terminating substan tially at the bottom of the rear fender 13.

Leading from the step 12 to the frame member 1 1 is a connecting apron 15 which may be formed of any suitable material.

ivotally mounted upon step 12 is a swinging plate 16 which may be hinged as at 17, one or more of the hinges being of the spring type adapted to throw the plate downwardly into a horizontal position. This downward movement is cushioned by suitable buttons 18 upon the outer surface of the plate, formed of rubber or the like.

As shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, there is secured to the upper surface of the plate 16 a cover member as of carpet 19 which extends inwardly to join the apron 15 at 20 and thence preferably upwardly along this apron to form a carpeted outer surface thereon, throughout its height.

The swinging plate 16 is held in its uppermost position by a suitable form of spring latch 21 interlocking with a pin 22, which may be at the end of the plate adjacent the fender 13. This latch is here shown as pivoted at 28'to the frame member 14, and has ivotally connected with its inner end a vertical slidable rod 2 1 extending through the car floor 25 and terminating in a button 26. This rod is normally held in an elevated position as by the coil spring 27. The outer end of latch member 21 is preferably so formed, as by the inclined surface 28, that it will, upon the plate 16 being thrown upwardly, automatically rise and snap downwardly over the pin 22.

to reach the extreme outward edge of the step 12 when it falls downwardly as indi catedin Figure 2.

The upper edge portion of the swinging device rests within a shield secured to or formed on theframe member 14 as indicated at 29. This shield is preferably of such form as to shed water from its downwardly inshield 30 of smaller cross section and the.

clined edge to the outer surface of the plate 16 from which it is carried downwardly thus preventing rain from access to the carpet'or cover'member 19. In like manner the forward edge of the plate 16.w1 th its associated parts is protected by a similar edges of the plate at each end'a're preferably grooved as indicated'by the dotted line 31,

in order to carry away any water, which may be driven inwardly beyond the shields.

In the use o'f this construction it is normally maintained in its upright closed position in which it is protected against unfavorable weather conditions and from being soiled by the ordinary use of the car. When, however, it is desired to provide a step surface which'is clean and carpeted, the button 26 is pressed, whereupon the spring hinges throw the plate 16 downwardly in the position indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings. After such use the plate is thrown upwardly and automatically locked in its closed position.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a devicein which the several objects of this-invention are achieved.

As various changesmay be made in the embodiment herein descrlbed, without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all features herein thereof.- 2. In construction of the class described,

set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as being illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1.. In construction of the class described,

in combination with an automobile, a step extending below the door of said automobile, a'connecting member between'said step and the body of said automobile, a covering member extending downwardly over said connecting member and thence outwardly over said step and means adapted to fold the horizontal portion of said covering member upwardly toward the upright portion in combination with an automobile, a step extending beneath the door of said automoblle, a swinging member adapted to move downwardly over said step and means independent of said door adapted to cause said adapted to cushion the downw o sa n inermemb 4.'In construction of the class described, in combination with an automobile," a step carpet secured upon the uppersurface of said swinging member, and cushioning means entending beneath the door or saidaut0mobile, aswingingf member mounted to swing ard movement downwardly over said step opposite. said.

door, a covering forthe'uppersurface of sa d swinging member comprising a sub: stant ally cont nuous strip ofl'carpet which 8 5 is extended upwardly fora substantial dis;

tance above said step, said: swingingmember being adapted, to foldupwardly into a substantially vertical planeand. a projecting.

part adapted: to' extend.- over and protect fromrain the .upper edge of said swinging member.

5. In construction of theclass described,

in combination with an automobile, a step extendingbeneath the door of said automobile, a swinging member mounted to'swing downwardly over saidstep opposite said door, a coveringv for the upper surface of) said swinging member, said i-awinging'member being adapted to fold upwardly'into a substantially vertical plane, aprojectin part adapted to extend over and protect from rain the upper edge of said swinging member and a projecting substantially upright part behind which the'forward edge of the swinging member-rests.

6. In construction of th eclass described, in combinationwith an'automobileya step extending beneath a door of saidautomobile, a swinging member, means mounting said member and adapted to tend area se it to swing downwardly over said'step,said memher being positioned to swing upwardly into a substantially upright plane, a covering member secured tothe uppersurface of said swinging member in horizontal position and means adapted to release said; swinging.

member and permit it tomovedownwardly over said step.- V 7, In construction of the'classldescribed, in combination with an automobile, a step member secured'to theupper surface ofsaid I extending beneath a door ofsaid automobile,

swinging member in horizontal position and extending over said member and thence up- Wardly to a height equal to a. substantial portion of the width of said member, means adapted to release said swinging'member and permit it to move downwardly over Said step, and projecting means adapted to shield name to this specification this 15th day of August, 1917.

JAMES OHUROHWARD. 

